National chains recognize AEP for outstanding customer service

COLUMBUS, Ohio, March 13, 2007 – American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) was recognized today as a top customer service provider to the nation’s retail chains and other multi-site businesses during 2006.

AEP was honored at the 10th annual Edison Electric Institute (EEI) Customer Service Awards program, held during EEI’s Spring National Accounts Workshop in Phoenix, Ariz. EEI is the association of shareholder-owned electric utility companies.

Barry Mosser, a national account executive with AEP who is based in Huntington, W.Va., also was recognized for outstanding customer service for the sixth consecutive year.

AEP had received the company-wide award twice before, most recently in 2005. Sharing honors with AEP in the “large company” category this year were Entergy and Southern Company.

More than 200 representatives of more than 100 multi-site businesses – including hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, convenience stores, other retail chains, health care facilities and federal government offices – selected the winning companies and individuals.

“The AEP national accounts team very much appreciates this recognition by our customers and EEI,” said Marsha Ryan, vice president-Customer Operations for AEP. “Our staff isn’t large, but our employees are talented and dedicated. They are the reason we’re being honored today.”

Referring to Mosser’s award, Ryan said, “Barry is clearly an extraordinary account executive who has set the standard for being customer focused.”

American Electric Power is one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, delivering electricity to more than 5 million customers in 11 states. AEP ranks among the nation’s largest generators of electricity, owning nearly 36,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the U.S. AEP also owns the nation’s largest electricity transmission system, a nearly 39,000-mile network that includes more 765 kilovolt extra-high voltage transmission lines than all other U.S. transmission systems combined. AEP’s utility units operate as AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia and West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana and east Texas). The company’s headquarters are in Columbus, Ohio.